Taken Alive eBook

out his impulse, then curbed himself and returned resolutely
to his dwelling. As soon as his step was on the
porch, the door opened and Mr. Kemble gave him the
warm grasp of friendship. Without a word, the
two men entered the sitting-room, sat down by the
ruddy fire, and looked at each other, Martine with
intense, questioning anxiety in his haggard face.
The banker nodded gravely as he said, “Yes,
she knows.”

“It’s as I said it would be?” Martine
added huskily, after a moment or two.

“Well, my friend, she said you would understand
her better than any one else. She wrote you this
note.”

Martine’s hands so trembled that he could scarcely
break the seal. He sat looking at the tear-blurred
words some little time, and grew evidently calmer,
then faltered, “Yes, it’s well to remember
God at such a time. He has laid heavy burdens
upon me. He is responsible for them, not I. If
I break, He also will be responsible.”

“Hobart,” said Mr. Kemble, earnestly,
“you must not break under this, for our sake
as well as your own. I have the presentiment
that we shall all need you yet, my poor girl perhaps
most of all. She doesn’t, she can’t
realize it. Now, the dead is alive again.
Old girlish impulses and feelings are asserting themselves.
As is natural, she is deeply excited; but this tidal
wave of feeling will pass, and then she will have
to face both the past and future. I know her
well enough to be sure she could never be happy if
this thing wrecked you. And then, Hobart,”
and the old man sank his voice to a whisper, “suppose—­suppose
Nichol continues the same.”

“He cannot,” cried Martine, almost desperately.
“Oh, Mr. Kemble, don’t suggest any hope
for me. My heart tells me there is none, that
there should not be any. No, she loved him as
I have loved her from childhood. She is right.
I do understand her so well that I know what the future
will be.”

“Well,” said Mr. Kemble, firmly, as he
rose, “she shall never marry him as he is, with
my consent. I don’t feel your confidence
about Helen’s power to restore him. I tell
you, Hobart, I’m in sore straits. Helen
is the apple of my eye. She is the treasure of
our old age. God knows I remember what you have
done for her and for us in the past; and I feel that
we shall need you in the future. You’ve
become like a son to mother and me, and you must stand
by us still. Our need will keep you up and rally
you better than all Dr. Barnes’ medicine.
I know you well enough to know that. But take
the medicine all the same; and above all things, don’t
give way to anything like recklessness and despair.
As you say, God has imposed the burden. Let him
give you the strength to bear it, and other people’s
burdens too, as you have in the past. I must
go now. Don’t fail me.”